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NMSU regents allow public comment at meeting to name interim president

By Diana Alba Soular / dalba@lcsun-news.com

Updated:
10/08/2012 07:38:46 PM MDT

Mike Cheney (Courtesy photo)

LAS CRUCES — When the five members of the New Mexico State University board of regents meet to appoint an interim president on Wednesday, they're bound to hear frustrations from members of the public.

That's because the 10 a.m. open meeting will include a public comment period — unlike a session one week ago, in which regents first formally announced the departure of outgoing President Barbara Couture.

An agenda for Wednesday's session hadn't been posted online Monday, but Regent Chairman Mike Cheney of Las Cruces said late Monday afternoon that the forthcoming document will include a public comment slot.

Asked why there wasn't a public comment period during last week's special meeting, Cheney explained: "Typically, on special sessions, we don't put them on there because they're pretty quick agendas."

State open meetings laws don't require a body to allow input from the public, but government transparency groups promote the practice in the interest of public participation. The nonprofit watchdog group Common Cause took issue several years ago with NMSU's lack of public input periods during regents meetings. NMSU then changed the practice, allowing for them.

At least one NMSU faculty member plans to attend Wednesday and express concerns held by many of the institution's academic and research workforce. Jamie Bronstein, NMSU professor of history, said she remains troubled by the "large chunk of money" that's planned to be paid out to Couture under the terms of the separation agreement, especially because NMSU is in a state of financial stress.

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Also, she said, a lack of transparency and poor communication in recent weeks regarding Couture's situation have only served to further demoralize a faculty with already-low morale.

"I was very concerned about both the process that has occurred, in terms of letting the president go and pushing her out, and the whole process being so opaque," she said.

The separation agreement calls for a $453,000 payment for Couture — what critics call a "golden parachute."

In addition, Bronstein said she's asking that regents create a policy to prohibit the awarding of such "parting gifts" in the future to upper administrators.

The meeting Wednesday will take place at the Corbett Center Student Union Auditorium on the NMSU main campus.

Bronstein, who was initially unsure whether there would be a public comment period Wednesday, said she outlined her concerns in an email to NMSU regents. But she'd prefer to express them in person.

The regents have declined to discuss reasons for Couture's abrupt departure. And a provision in the separation agreement spells out that "both the board and the president agree not to discuss or disparage the parties' business relationship" and to "refrain from any conduct or communication which impugns the reputation of the other, publicly or privately, verbally or in writing, at any time."

Couture, too, has been silent about what's transpired.

Cheney disputed the criticism about a lack of transparency with the faculty. He said he has an "open line of communication" with Faculty Senate Chairman Timothy Ketelaar.

"I think there's always going to be comments that may or may not be representative of the large group," he said.

Coincidentally, the board of regents meeting is slated for the same time as the now-canceled, second annual State of the University Address. Couture had invited faculty and employees from across campus to attend.

Appointee?

Cheney said he's expecting the board to name an interim president on Wednesday, though it will depend on regents' discussion during a closed meeting beforehand. He declined, again, to name any potential candidates under consideration.

Bronstein said faculty members are hoping for more involvement — early on in the process —of searching for a new NMSU president.

Cheney said setting up the process to hire the next president will be the board's focus after Wednesday.

The closed meeting starts at 9 a.m.

Diana Alba Soular can be reached at 575-541-5443; Follow her on Twitter @AlbaSoular

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